Share this:

Niners practice-squad receivers Ricardo Lockette and Chad Hall both logged NFL playing time last year. And it appears one of them will play in a regular-season game this season, too.

With Mario Manningham out with a season-ending knee injury, Jim Harbaugh said the 49ers will fill his spot on the 53-man roster by promoting a member of the practice squad. Harbaugh said it wouldn’t necessarily be a wideout.

About 30 minutes later, however, Hall said it’s likely a two-man competition.

“They told Ricardo and I to be ready,” Hall said. “It’s probably one of ya’ll that’s going to be up this week. They’ve definitely hinted at it, but you just take it like I do every other week and prepare the same and always be ready.”

So which wideout will it be?

Lockette (6-2, 211), 26, is bigger, faster and has more experience in San Francisco’s offense. Signed by the 49ers on Sept. 24, he had two catches for 105 yards in two games with the Seahawks last year, including a 44-yarder in a 19-17 Week 16 loss to the 49ers. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2011 combine, which matched the fastest time by a wide receiver.

Undrafted out of Fort Valley State, he’s since added football acumen to his athleticism.

“It was night and day,” Lockette said of his adjustment to the NFL. “I think coming from Division II, I was a little more athletic than everyone else. But at this level, everyone is pretty much athletic. So it’s all about who’s the smarter player and who has more wisdom.

“I’m just learning from the older guys like Randy (Moss). And (cornerback) Carlos (Rogers) – ‘Carlos when I ran this route, what did I do to let you know I was going in? Or what did I do to let you know I was going to stop?’ I try not to do that thing the next day, whatever he told me.”

Meanwhile, Hall (5-8, 187), 26, a slot receiver, is quicker and has more NFL playing experience than Lockette. In 15 games with the Eagles from 2010-11, he had 14 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 12 carries for 42 yards. He was signed by the 49ers on Nov. 27.

Despite his limited time with the Niners, he said he’s comfortable with the offense, which has similar verbiage to the West Coast system he learned in Philadelphia.

“It’s tough, after being (on a 53-man roster) and then going back,” Hall said. “Like I said, you play to play the game on Sunday. You don’t play to practice, but I mean, it’s part of it. Just to get an opportunity, you got make the most of it.

“They’re so slim in this league and some people never get one. So, I’m blessed to be here and excited to have the chance, maybe, to help this team win and help this team in the future.”

** Defensive tackle Justin Smith (elbow) was not present at the start of practice. Harbaugh offered no update on Smith’s medical status before practice.

** Tight end Vernon Davis (concussion) was not wearing a helmet at the start of practice, an indication he will do individual work with trainers. Davis needs to be cleared by an independent neurologist to return to practice.

** The 49ers signed safety Curtis Taylor and defensive tackle Lamar Divens to the practice squad.

A seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2009, Taylor was released following training camp in 2011. He was subsequently signed by the Raiders and released before the 2012 regular season. Divens, 6-foot-3 and 340 pounds, has played for five teams since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He was released from the Texans practice squad on Oct. 29.